Part 16 (1/2)

Then a dry voice drawled, ”Jake Vodell ain't never overworked himself as anybody knows of, has he? As for you, Sam Whaley, I'm thinkin' it would take somethin' more than a crucifyin' to get much profit out of you, the way you mooch around.”

There was a general laugh at this and Sam Whaley went on his weak way to do whatever it was that he was supposed to be doing.

”Sam's all right, Bob,” said one who had laughed. ”His heart is in the right place.”

”Sure he is,” agreed Bob. ”But I sometimes can't help thinkin', just the same, that if I was a-ownin' and a-workin' slaves, I'd consider him a mighty poor piece of property.”

When Adam Ward entered the office, some time later, he walked straight to his son's desk, without so much as a glance or a nod of recognition toward any other soul in the big room.

”I want to talk with you, John,” he said, grimly, and pa.s.sed on into his private office.

The closing of the door of that sacred inner room behind John was the signal for a buzz of excited comments.

”Lordy,” gasped a stenographer to her nearest neighbor, ”but I'm sorry for poor young Mr. Ward--did you see the old man's face?”

The half-whispered remark expressed, with fair accuracy, the general sentiment of the entire force.

Adam Ward did not sit down at his desk, but going to a window he stood looking out as though deep in thought.

”Father,” said John, at last, ”what is it? Has anything happened?”

Adam turned slowly, and it was evident that he was holding his self-control by a supreme effort of will. ”I have made up my mind to quit,” he said. ”From to-day on you will take my place and a.s.sume my responsibilities in the Mill.”

”I am glad, father,” said John, simply, ”You really should be free from all business cares. As for my taking your place in the Mill,” he smiled, ”no one could ever do that, father.”

”You have full control and absolute authority from to-day on,” returned Adam. ”I shall never put my foot inside the doors of the plant or the office again.”

”But, father!” cried John. ”There is no need for you to--”

Adam interrupted him with an imperious gesture. ”There is no use arguing about it,” he said, coldly. ”But there are two or three things that I want to tell you--that I think you ought to know. You can take them from me or not, as you please. My ideas and policies that made this inst.i.tution what it is to-day will probably be thrown aside as so much worthless junk, but I am going to give you a word or two of warning just the same.”

John knew that when his father was in this mood there was nothing to do but to keep silent. But the expression of the old Mill owner's face filled his son's heart with pity, and the boy could not refrain from saying, ”I am sorry you feel that way about it, father, because really you are all wrong. Can't we sit down and talk it over comfortably?”

”I prefer to stand,” returned Adam. ”I can say all I have to say in a few words. I am retiring because I know, now, after”--he hesitated--”after the last two nights, that I must. I am turning the Mill over to you because I would rather burn it to the ground than see it in the hands of any one outside the family. I believe, too, that the only way to get the wild, idiotic ideas of that old fool basket maker out of your head is to make you personally responsible for the success or failure of this business. I have watched you long enough to know that you have the ability to handle it, and I am convinced that once you realize how much money you can make, you will drop all your sentimental nonsense and get your feet on solid ground.”

John Ward's cheeks flushed, but he made no reply to his father's pointed observations.

”I had those same romantic notions about work and business myself when I was your age,” continued Adam, ”but experience taught me better.

Experience will teach you.” He paused and went to stand at the window again.

John waited.

Presently Adam faced about once more. ”I suppose you have noticed that McIver is greatly interested in your sister Helen?”

”I imagined so,” returned John, soberly. ”Well, he is. He wants to marry her. If she will only be sensible and see it right, it is a wonderful opportunity for us. McIver made over a million out of the war. His factory is next to this in size and importance and it is so closely related to the Mill that a combination of the two industries, with the control of the new process, would give you a tremendous advantage. You could practically put all compet.i.tors out of business.

McIver has approached me several times on the proposition but I have been holding off, hoping that Helen would accept him, so that their marriage would tie the thing up that much tighter. You and McIver, with the family relation established by Helen, would make a great team.” He hesitated and his face worked with nervous emotion as he added, ”There is something about the new process that--perhaps--you should know--I--”

He stopped abruptly to pace up and down the room in nervous excitement, as if fighting for the mastery of the emotions aroused by this mention of his patented property.

As John Ward watched his father and felt the struggle within the man's secret self, the room seemed suddenly filled with the invisible presence of that hidden thing. The younger man's eyes filled with tears and he cried in protest, ”Father--father--please don't--”